News Round Up 2018

[jade1]

Whether any of that is true or not, it'sshocking the peril that the Star Wars franchise is in. The Last Jedi was 2017's highest grossing film but it really underperformed. It was never predicted to match TFA but it fell below even the most pessimistic predictions.

Couple that with the reportedly shabby toy sales and Disney may have a real problem on their hands. It makes me wonder if Galaxy's Edge is going to be the Harry Potter-swatter Disney was hoping it would be?

Probably would be best, lower crowds and they would still need to add more to swat Potter. Great for us.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The reason that you probably will not get mobile ordering to become the norm is that people aren't that organized. We've all seen the cases where someone has been standing in line for 15 minutes and gets to the counter and still has no clue what they want. You need to convince people that not only do they need to know what restaurant they are going to more than 5 minutes before they eat (eliminating probably half the population) but that they can make a decision without starting at the menu for 10 minutes (likely another 30% of the population).

I know in our case I am not sure I will be able to convince my wife to try mobile ordering because she is one of those that needs to stare at the menu for 5 minutes and look at the food coming out to decide what she wants. We'll see what happens in February.

see I like the mobile ordering because I feel it gives me more time to look at the menu and see how things can be customized, etc. - so I think it works great for getting all that set for you entire party when it is convenient for you rather than while in line/at the counter

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I've been reading on several movie fan blogs that LucasFilm/Disney is considering moving the release date of Solo to December. Partly because of the reasons listed in his article and partly because they want additional time for the Star Wars fans who didn't like The Last Jedi to "cool their jets" of their dislike of that film. Supposedly Disney is worried about a possible fan backlash because of the high negatives from people who did not like Last Jedi and who may not go see "Solo". This is all speculation of course and who knows if the info is accurate.

also give some people time to "cool their jets" and go into Solo with more of an open mind rather than with still a negative feeling

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Whether any of that is true or not, it'sshocking the peril that the Star Wars franchise is in. The Last Jedi was 2017's highest grossing film but it really underperformed. It was never predicted to match TFA but it fell below even the most pessimistic predictions.

Couple that with the reportedly shabby toy sales and Disney may have a real problem on their hands. It makes me wonder if Galaxy's Edge is going to be the Harry Potter-swatter Disney was hoping it would be?

well, I think we can debate/disagree on if TLJ "really underperformed" - I think expectations really got raised and it didn't hit those - but $ wise it did fine for the 2nd of a trilogy

I think the land will be fine - Avatar the movie didn't have the most positive view among park goers but people still love the land so I think one doesn't necessarily correlate to the other

 

[jknezek]

I really think the land will live or die on the quality of the land itself and the attractions. I don't think it can possibly do poorly, but the staying power of the crowds will depend on how good it really is, not how good the movies are.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Agreed the points made with both above posts, but what I'm getting at is if Star Wars is a cold property(culturally) at the time of opening, it won't be the pivotal driver of attendance growth and grab-back of market share from Universal it was designed to be.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Whether any of that is true or not, it'sshocking the peril that the Star Wars franchise is in. The Last Jedi was 2017's highest grossing film but it really underperformed. It was never predicted to match TFA but it fell below even the most pessimistic predictions.

Couple that with the reportedly shabby toy sales and Disney may have a real problem on their hands. It makes me wonder if Galaxy's Edge is going to be the Harry Potter-swatter Disney was hoping it would be?

I don't share these doubts. TLJ may have underperformed but still turned in really solid numbers. Toy sales down makes sense for multiple reasons, mostly around saturation at a certain point.

I'm one of the people who HATES Avatar -- and I really, really like Pandora and FoP is incredible. I don't think a land's success is 100% wed to a movie -- it will stand or fall on the strength of the land itself, IMO. And in the case of SW, people will be drawn to the land by the many movies (not just the most recent), the nostalgia, etc., etc.

I have ZERO concerns about SWGE except navigating what will be insane crowds without losing my mind!!

 

[jknezek]

Agreed the points made with both above posts, but what I'm getting at is if Star Wars is a cold property(culturally) at the time of opening, it won't be the pivotal driver of attendance growth and grab-back of market share from Universal it was designed to be.

Between now and 2019 Star Wars isn't going to go cold. Whatever your feelings on TLJ, it had strong numbers. Solo may be a flop, but with the 3rd movie still due on the current trilogy, it won't go cold. It won't be as hot as with the TFA premiere, but it never was going to be. Star Tours never really fell in popularity, it's been consistent since about 2 years after opening, even as bad as the prequels were. It's the trilogy after this one that will be key. This trilogy ends the original storyline. People will see it just to watch it wrap up. How they transition and start the next chapter, and how good that chapter is, will determine the staying power of the movies.

The land, however, is mostly divorced from those concerns. If Frozen 2 stinks does anyone think FEA will suddenly not be popular? Of course not. The same with SW:GE. There is enough love and nostalgia that it will succeed so long as it isn't completely terrible. And I highly doubt any part of it will be bad, let alone terrible, other than the crowding.

 

[closetmickey]

Only problem is no quick service locations have an AP discount anymore. It’s only table service.

Really? That’s surprising...and disappointing.

 

[closetmickey]

agreed - and sometimes they don't ask which is annoying as you might not realize you were eligible for a discount. That is one thing I like about at Disneyland - at ever cash register it seemed the CMs were asking for anything that might give you a discount, almost like they are trying to find an excuse to give you a discount (I assume part of that is because the % of people with things like APs is much higher there so a much higher probability that a guest would have some sort of discount)

And the only places I’ve come across without a discount are the carts.

 

[dina444444]

Really? That’s surprising...and disappointing.

They never offered it previously at quick service it was only for the 45th anniversary promotion and the table services that were part of that were 20% at the time and are now back to 10%.

 

[dina444444]

And the only places I’ve come across without a discount are the carts.

Yes. At Disneyland as an AP you can get your food or merch discount everywhere except the ODV carts.

One major difference between WDW and Disneyland with discounts is that at Disneyland your discount varies based on the type of AP you have.

 

[closetmickey]

Yes. At Disneyland as an AP you can get your food or merch discount everywhere except the ODV carts.

One major difference between WDW and Disneyland with discounts is that at Disneyland your discount varies based on the type of AP you have.

Yes- but all passes receive at least 10%. Which really does add up. With the supposed lower number of passholders in Florida, I’m surprised that they are not given the same perk.

 

[dina444444]

News

Rare ‘Super Blue Blood Moon’ Dazzles at Toy Story Land

 

[rteetz]

News

Rare ‘Super Blue Blood Moon’ Dazzles at Toy Story Land

Only problem is it looks pretty white to me

Give us some more info already Disney!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

NEWS

Splitsville finally opens at Downtown Disney

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/splitsville-luxury-lanes-finally-opens-in-downtown-disney/

 

[skier_pete]

Are we really having a debate about whether Star Wars land will be popular because TLJ ONLY made $1.3 Billion dollars?

Next topic please...

 

[mikeamizzle]

Anyone know if the rumored 4K UHD blu ray release of TLJ still sometime in March? that was the last I had heard..

 

[jlundeen]

Only problem is it looks pretty white to me

Give us some more info already Disney!

This is from NASA...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10155984255941772

 

[mikeamizzle]

^ I think he knew that..